If you’re a fan of pizza and big, hearty salads like I am, you’re going to love this Pizza Salad with Creamy Parmesan Dressing! Inspired by one of my favorite dishes at Little Original Joe’s in San Francisco, this salad is packed with all the delicious pizza toppings we all crave, but in salad form! From the crispy pepperoni to the tangy dressing, this salad is an explosion of flavors that’s as satisfying as your favorite pizza. I swapped out provolone cheese for a few of my own tweaks, but feel free to adjust it to your liking!

Method

Start by making the dressing. In a blender, combine the extra virgin olive oil, Dijon mustard, honey, mashed garlic, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano, kosher salt, and black pepper. Blend everything together until smooth and creamy. Once blended, taste the dressing and adjust the seasonings as needed, adding more salt or vinegar if you prefer extra tang. Once the dressing is perfect, set it aside.

While the dressing is blending, move on to preparing the salad ingredients. Begin by chopping the romaine lettuce into bite-sized pieces and placing it in a large salad bowl. Then, slice the baby tomatoes in half, finely slice the red onion, and chop the mushrooms and pepperoncini. Rinse and drain the kidney and garbanzo beans, and slice the black olives. For the pepperoni, chop it into small pieces, and for the croutons, chop them into bite-sized chunks.

Once all the salad ingredients are prepared, it’s time to assemble the salad. Start by layering the chopped romaine lettuce at the base of the bowl. Then, add the halved baby tomatoes, finely sliced red onion, kidney and garbanzo beans, sliced mushrooms, chopped pepperoncini, black olives, chopped pepperoni, and croutons, creating a colorful and delicious combination of textures and flavors.

Finally, dress the salad by pouring the creamy Parmesan dressing over the top. Toss everything gently but thoroughly to ensure all the ingredients are well-coated in the tangy, creamy dressing.Serve and enjoy! Serve the pizza salad immediately while the croutons are still crunchy, and enjoy the fresh, savory, and satisfying combination of pizza-inspired toppings in salad form.

Necessary Tools

Blender for dressing
Large salad bowl
Knife and cutting board for chopping vegetables and toppings
Measuring spoons and cups
Whisk for mixing dressing (optional)

Pizza Salad with Creamy Parmesan Dressing: A Delicious Twist on Pizza Toppings

Recipe by Troy Jorge

0.0 from 0 votes

Cuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy

Servings

servings

Prep time

minutes

Cooking time

minutes

Total time

minutes

Ingredients

For the Salad:
6 cups romaine lettuce, chopped (about 2 heads)
1 cup baby tomatoes, halved
1/4 cup finely sliced red onion
3/4 cup kidney beans (canned, drained, and rinsed)
3/4 cup garbanzo beans (canned, drained, and rinsed)
3/4 cup finely sliced white mushrooms
1/4 cup pepperoncini, chopped
1/2 cup sliced black olives
1 cup pepperoni, chopped
1 1/4 cups croutons, chopped
For the Creamy Parmesan Dressing:
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tsp Dijon mustard
2 tsp honey
2 cloves garlic
1 lemon, juiced
2 tbsp red wine vinegar
3/4 cup freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp black pepper

Directions

Make the Dressing: Start by preparing the creamy Parmesan dressing. In a blender, add the extra virgin olive oil, Dijon mustard, honey, mashed garlic, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, Parmigiano Reggiano, kosher salt, and black pepper. Blend everything together until the dressing is smooth and creamy. Taste it and adjust the seasonings as needed (add a bit more salt or vinegar for extra tang). Set it aside.
Prepare the Salad Ingredients: While the dressing is blending, prepare the salad ingredients. Chop and slice the romaine lettuce, baby tomatoes, red onion, mushrooms, and pepperoncini. Drain and rinse the kidney and garbanzo beans. Slice the black olives and chop the pepperoni into bite-sized pieces. Finally, chop the croutons into smaller pieces.
Assemble the Salad: In a large bowl, start by adding the chopped romaine lettuce as the base. Then, layer on the tomatoes, red onion, beans, mushrooms, pepperoncini, olives, pepperoni, and croutons.
Dress the Salad: Pour the creamy Parmesan dressing over the salad and toss everything together gently, ensuring all the ingredients are well-coated in the dressing.
Serve and Enjoy: Serve the pizza salad immediately while the croutons are still crunchy and the flavors are fresh. Enjoy this savory, satisfying salad on its own or paired with a protein like grilled chicken or fish.

Notes

Serve and Enjoy: Serve the pizza salad immediately while the croutons are still crunchy and the flavors are fresh. Enjoy this savory, satisfying salad on its own or paired with a protein like grilled chicken or fish.
Adjust Dressing Consistency: If you find the dressing too thick, you can add an extra tablespoon of water or vinegar to thin it out to your preferred consistency.
Customize the Toppings: Feel free to switch up the toppings according to your preference. You can add more veggies or even swap pepperoni for another favorite topping!

Serving Suggestions

Add Protein: For an extra boost of protein, serve this salad with grilled chicken, shrimp, or even a hard-boiled egg on top.
Side Dish: This salad pairs wonderfully with a warm garlic bread or a simple pasta dish to complete the meal.
Make it Vegan: Swap the pepperoni for a plant-based version, and use a dairy-free cheese for the dressing to make this salad vegan-friendly!

Fun Fact

Did you know that salad can be traced back to ancient Rome? The word “salad” comes from the Latin word “salata,” meaning “salted,” because Roman salads were often seasoned with salt. Today, we’re all about dressing up salads with delicious, flavorful ingredients—just like this one!

Conclusion

This Pizza Salad with Creamy Parmesan Dressing is a fun and flavorful way to enjoy all your favorite pizza toppings in a fresh and light salad. It’s easy to make, full of texture, and packed with savory goodness. Whether you’re enjoying it on its own or pairing it with a protein, this salad is a winner every time. Go ahead, give it a try you’ll be hooked after the first bite!